Regarding the poster's question about abstaining from meat on Fridays,
she can get information by googling on this. Canon 1251 is the directive
on this topic, and it basically gives Catholics a choice to do penance
some other way whether it giving up TV for a day or giving up something
meaningful that would be sacrificial. Because of the moral climate we
are experiencing at this time, the bishops are looking at re-instating the
no meat on Fridays for penitential reasons. Cardinal Dolan made this
statement to the conference of bishops, "The work of our Conference
during the coming year includes reflections on re-embracing Friday as a
particular day of penance, including the possible re-institution of
abstinence on all Fridays of the year, not just during Lent." We have
made it a practice in our household to refrain from meat on most
Wednesdays and consistently on Fridays. Our reasons are to atone for
our sins and the sins of others. The good fruit that can come from this
practice is developing the virtues of temperance and knowing that maybe
with our sacrifices souls are being saved (including our own poor souls
and those of our family and loved ones.) The poster may not be able to
convince the priests she talks with, but she can do this and encourage
others who want to deepen their spiritual life.